S.F. Giants: Ryan Vogelsong takes next step in recovery

CINCINNATI -- The skies opened up Monday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, but a little rain wasn't going to keep Ryan Vogelsong off the field.

The right-hander, sidelined since breaking his pinkie on May 20, played catch for the first time since having surgery. Vogelsong said he didn't feel any pain or irritation in the pinkie finger, which is still swollen. He threw for about five minutes with trainer Dave Groeschner.

"This is a good step for me," Vogelsong said. "It felt good. There was nothing in my hand. The ball felt good when it was coming out of my hand. Everything went well. There's a little weakness, but that's to be expected."

San Francisco Giants' starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) leaves the game with trainer Dave Groeschner after the ball hit his hand during his at-bat against the Washington Nationals in the fifth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Vogelsong had a splint removed last Tuesday and had been eyeing Monday as a day when he could finally throw a baseball again. In the meantime, he has been squeezing a baseball in the dugout during games and trying to get his fingers stretched out so he can throw his changeup when he returns to a mound. He said he also has been flipping the ball in the air with a curveball grip.

The famously intense Vogelsong has grown a heavy beard while on the disabled list and said he was happy just to be able to do take another step in the right direction after weeks of watching from the dugout as the Giants struggle. The team is 14-22 since Vogelsong was put on the disabled list.

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"It's a little tougher because we're not playing as good as we can be, and it's difficult to know I can't really help," he said.

Vogelsong said he wasn't sure if he was ahead of schedule in his rehab, but he was sure about the next step. "I'll throw again (Tuesday)," he said.